Uptown Action

Uptown Action is People’s Theatre Project’s free program where adult community members work together to create an original, interactive and bilingual play inspired by true stories of injustice they have experienced in our working class, immigrant neighborhood. Our co-facilitators guide the ensemble of community actors through the process of dramatizing their stories for the stage. At the end of the process, the troupe presents the “forum theatre” play as a series of community brainstorming events where audience members are invited to take center stage and act out new ideas to solve the problems they’ve just seen the community actors portray.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?English and/or Spanish speaking community members ages 18 and up who are excited to get to know each other, listen to each others stories about police encounters, and support each other through each step of the art making process. Though we are serious about making high quality and compelling theatre (and having fun!), our main purpose with Uptown Action is to create an artistic space for inspiring and effective community dialogue. If you are looking for an opportunity to advance your acting career, then you should know that this is probably not the right group for you.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?Participation in all People’s Theatre Project programs is free.

WHEN DOES THE PROGRAM MEET?Each fall, and spring a new production is conceived and created by the group. Rehearsals usually take place on weekday evenings. Participants may be invited to be part of our year-end event “The People Storm the Palace” which will take place in June. Participants who miss more than 2 rehearsal may not be able to participate in the final performance.

WHERE DOES THE PROGRAM MEET?Rehearsals will take place at the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center - 530 West 166th Street.